Schedule recurring payments to start in the future

When creating a payment link or quote, you can set a recurring line item's billing start date to the future. This enables you to collect on confirmed future subscription payments from your buyers. 

For example, you can use this feature to:

• Collect initial payment for building a website while also scheduling monthly billing for SEO services starting 6 months in the future.
• Sign a customer up for a quarterly subscription service two months in advance without billing them until their subscription starts. 

Below, learn how to set a recurring line item to start billing on a future date. Then, learn how to manage recurring payments after a buyer checks out.

Limits

When setting a recurring line item’s billing start date to the future, keep the following in mind:

• When a payment link includes a future billing start date, you won’t be able to embed the payment link using the embed code. 

• One-time order discounts will only apply to the items due at checkout. This type of discount cannot be applied to future-dated recurring line-items. To offer a discount on a future-dated recurring line item, you can instead include a unit discount on the line item.

Set a recurring line item's billing start date

While setting up line items for your payment link or quote, you can adjust its billing start date either from the line item editor or by adjusting the Billing start date column. 

• To set a future billing start date from the line item editor:
  • Click the name of the line item.
  • In the right panel, select the Delay Billing Start Date checkbox.

• Using the Start billing terms dropdown menu, select one of the following options:
  • Custom Date: a specific date in the future. After selecting this option, use the date picker to select the start date, then click Save.
  • Delayed start (days): delay the billing start date by a number of days after checkout. After selecting this option, enter a number into the Delayed billing start by days field.
  • Delayed start (months): delay the billing start date by a number of months after checkout. After selecting this option, enter a number into the Delayed billing start by months field.

• To set a future billing start date from the line item table:
  • To delay billing by a specific amount of days or months after checkout, scroll to the Billing start date by columns. Then, in the Delayed billing start by field, enter either a number of days or months. The Billing start date column will also update to reflect this delay.
  • To delay billing until a specific date, scroll to the Billing start date column. Then, click the Billing start date dropdown menu and select Custom Date. In the right panel, use the date picker to select a date, then click Save.

Please note: this configuration allows you to collect on confirmed future payments from your buyers. You should consult your own legal advisors if you plan on using this tool to collect on other payment options.

• Continue setting up the payment link or quote.

With the future start date selected, buyers who view the payment link before that start date will see a Future charges section with details about the recurring subscription item. This information will also be included in their receipt and your merchant copy. The Total at checkout will only include the initial payment, not any future charges.

After checkout, a payment record will be created for the one-time line item, and a subscription record will be created for the recurring line items with a status of Scheduled.


If a buyer opens the payment link or quote after the future billing start date has passed, payments for all line items will be due at checkout. Any one-time discounts will then be applied to the first installment of the subscription, rather than just to the one-time line item. 

After a buyer checks out, you can manage their subscription, including cancelling the subscription, setting up payment reminders, and using subscriptions to power other HubSpot tools.